Turkmenistan Shuts Off Gas Supplies to Russia, Ukraine

Turkmenistan says it is shutting off its natural gas supplies to Russia and Ukraine effective Friday.

The Turkmen government says the interruption in supplies to Russia will last until January 7, pending pipeline repairs.

By contrast, Turkmenistan has set no date for the resumption of supplies to Ukraine, saying there is no contract for deliveries to that country in 2005. Turkmenistan, which has close ties to Russia, says the decision is not political.

The move comes days after Ukrainian officials declared pro-western presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko the winner of a disputed election over the Kremlin-backed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.